Cuaprrr XX XT 
SALUTATIONS 
Notice given of approach to settlement (803). 
Special house for strangers (804). 
Procedures of the visitors on arrival (S05). 
Procedures of the people visited: Signs and gestures (806) ; other expressions 
of friendship and welcome (807-808); painting and anointing (809); dis- 
tribution of drink, food, and tobacco (810); ceremonial of their dis- 
tribution, male servitors (811); apparent indifference of the host (812). 
Interchange of credentials occasionally, welcoming speech, ete. (813) ; comfort 
of the visitors assured, women, ete. (814); on departure, gifts, speeches, 
ete., may be exchanged (815). 
803. On the near approach to a house or settlement the visitors 
invariably announce their coming by some distinctive noise or sound. 
As old Carib and Arawak have explained to me, were such notice 
not given, the visitors might get shot as an enemy on emerging from 
the bush into the open space around the dwelling. As will be 
gauged from the following such signals (which might at other times 
convey a meaning other than that of near propinquity) were pro- 
duced in various ways. Before approaching the house it is customary 
for the Pomeroon Carib to knock two or three times with a paddle 
on a tree buttress. This is often accompanied by a whistle pro- 
duced by means of the back of the little finger placed in the mouth. 
A tree of enormous size had fallen near the spot [Akawinni Creek, 
Pomeroon]| and lay with a part of its roots elevated several feet 
from the ground. An Indian [Arawak] climbed upon it, and stand- 
ing high above our heads, with a heavy piece of wood struck one of 
the broad fluted projections of the trunk, . .. which gave a loud 
ringing sound that echoed through the forest and across the swamp 
(Br, 115). Similarly, the foot of each successive visitor may be 
kicked backward to strike against the stump of a hollow tree (JO). 
Our approach to a village was always announced by some of our 
Indians [Wapishana] playing a sort of tune on their bone flutes, 
and our entry into it by their shoutings . . . The Makusi acted dif- 
ferently. They entered the houses noisily, giving three stamps on 
the ground, and uttering in a deep tone of voice the sounds, “ Too- 
too-too-hah-hah-hah” (BB, 158). [In Cayenne] toward evening our 
principal guide [a Nourague ?] gave a signal with a sort of pipe that 
may be heard at a great distance (GB, 23). Clay and bamboo 
620 
